GOP Congressman Calls Obama "Uppity"

The Hill:

Georgia Republican Rep. Lynn Westmoreland used the racially-tinged term "uppity" to describe Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama Thursday.

Westmoreland was discussing vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's speech with reporters outside the House chamber and was asked to compare her with Michelle Obama.

"Just from what little I've seen of her and Mr. Obama, Sen. Obama, they're a member of an elitist-class individual that thinks that they're uppity," Westmoreland said.

Asked to clarify that he used the word "uppity," Westmoreland said, "Uppity, yeah."

Read the whole story: The Hill

Comments

[foxfan]

I went back and read this again. He actually doesn't call Obama uppity. He says that he thinks that Obama sees himself as uppity. That distinction aside, I looked up uppity and found this: 1. affecting an attitude of inflated self-esteem; haughty; snobbish. 2. rebelliously self-assertive; not inclined to be tractable or deferential.

I don't think Obama is uppity at all.

[stagebandman]

WHAT THE HELL????!!!! Why wasn't this story on the front page of every newspaper in the country, the headline of every news show, and the rallying cry of every progressive talk show in the country, if not the world? Come on, liberal media? We know that's BS, but how about SOME coverage? Olbermann is the only guy I saw talk about this, and I listen to Air America and didn't hear "boo" about it. What's going on? LET'S START CALLING THESE A-HOLES OUT! Geez, you go on vacation for one week.....

[Semper]

I like that term uppity. And it implies to me that Obama is preceived as a treat. That he is strong and that he is not going to back down. Southern whites are showing their whole card, there is fear in them their hills. Let's go Democrats

[barackobama4prez]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032553/#scroll_video

[JadedAggie]

Now the idiot is trying to claim he had no idea there was a racial component to the word Uppity. Nearly every 20-something white males in California knows that the word Uppity is racist so I have no idea how you are going to get away claiming a middle aged congressman in Georgia doesn't know that. Even more daft is that after being "told" it was racist he still stuck by the word as a good description of BO and MO.

[Bendersky]

I think the word "Elitist" is republicanese for "an educated, well thought out and intelligent democrat."

It seems the right has forsaken all three of these qualities, trading them in for uncreative dogma, oversimplified sounds bites and boilerplate logic. And BTW, If anyone comes from an elite family, well, look no further than our current (and soon to be ex-) sitting president. His entire family has been steeped in banking and big oil for generations now.

[Lexica]

Every time this topic comes up I find myself in a state of puzzlement, because I cannot understand why these derogatory terms are being used to describe Senator Obama. Is it because his childhood experiences in America were different from many others of his ethnic background? Is it because he managed to obtain first class educational opportunities (through scholarship and hard work)? Is it because he speaks in clear, enunciated English and is able to answer intricate, multi-part questions with intricate, multi-part answers, without sacrificing intelligibility? Does it have to do with physical mannerisms or facial expressions (which are simply a part of one's being and have nothing to do with one's character)? Or, in this case, is it because some people are unable - or unwilling - to let go of the past and realize that this country will rise or fall on its ability, or inability, to chart a new course where respect can transcend those old boundaries?

[ChiGuy]

It's more prevalent in the Republican Party than you know.
And NOT just in the South.

[kjdwyer]

"Just from what little I’ve seen of her [Michelle] and Mr. Obama, Sen. Obama, they're a member of an elitist-class individual that thinks that they're uppity," Westmoreland said.

Can we just for a second focus on the fact that this quote makes ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE? How is it that politicians are allowed to get away with expressing themselves like this? It's bad enough that what I think he's trying to say is so racially charged, but then he doesn't even have the basic intelligence to form a coherent sentence.

What the hell is "a member of an elitist-class individual"? And by saying "that thinks they're uppity" is he trying to say that the class thinks they're uppity or that Obama is uppity or that Obama thinks of himself as uppity?

I can only hope Westmoreland was chewing chaw at the time and turned to spit after uttering this idiocy.

[fistbump]

Westmoreland is the same guy Colbert embarrassed over the 10 Commandments.

http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/videos.jhtml?videoId=70730

[wdw101]

"uppity" means "behaving in a way that is considered presumptuous and more suited to somebody belonging a higher social class or position"

"racially-tinged term" wow, where did that come from?

uppity can be used against anyone being presumptuous

[DuPageDem]

Like Tom Ridge's "John Bush" comment, sometimes what they really think slips out.

[solbro]

If he had said this at the convention from the podium, he'd get a 10 minute standing O... sad

[hairball68]

the democrats should seize this opportunity from here on out to equate the word elitist with the word 'uppity'. it will take the power away from the republicans (and their constant us of the word elitist) while making continuous reference to the racism so prevalent in their party.

[Grunty1]

Brace yourselves patriotic Americans.

As the GOP continues to circle the toilet bowl and the election gets closer, they are going to get more and more blatantly racist.